Flexibility in system structuring helps utilities to deploy their grid management system in a more customized, secured and reliable designs. A modern grid management solution can be setup in different configuration, shaped for customer needs:
Single control system at one location Single control system installed at several locations
Several independent control systems which may be linked
Several independent control centers which can be operated as a single integrated one
The process (or processes) can be controlled from several locations independently or jointly.
The system dynamics should not be dependent on the number of locations and operators, hence it should be able to grow up from a small control system to an entire country, in main/backup control center configuration, with the same software and licensing. This is specially very useful in merger and acquisitions where two or several utilities integrate grid management efforts in one system, but at different locations.A distributed control system also should be serviced from any location. This reduces the maintenance efforts. It also ensures that all control centers will have the same and consistent software installed.
